Pakistan war hero Brigadier V.R. Swaminathan passes away

Tamil Nadu: Brigadier V.R. Swaminathan (94), a retired war hero who served with gallantry during the 1971 India-Pakistan War, passed away on Saturday in Coimbatore.

V.R. Swaminathan, who had been battling age-related ailments and health complications for the past few days, was admitted to a private hospital in Coimbatore for treatment. He breathed his last on Saturday while undergoing intensive care at the facility. Brigadier V.R. Swaminathan served in the Indian Army for a long tenure and held various key positions. Swaminathan, who participated in the Goa Liberation operations in 1962 and counter-insurgency operations in Nagaland in 1965, is remembered today with pride in military circles for his battlefield strategies and dedicated service to the nation during the historic 1971 India-Pakistan War. His passing is regarded as an irreparable loss to both the Indian Army and the Kongu region.

His wife, Vasanthi, had passed away earlier. He is survived by three daughters—Tarangini Arun, Deepa Suresh, and Jyothi Seshadri. His third daughter, Jyothi, had also passed away previously.

V.R. Swaminathan’s mortal remains will be kept at his residence in Coimbatore for public homage. Army officers and dignitaries are expected to attend the funeral ceremony in Coimbatore on Sunday (March 15) to pay their final respects. Various organizations and ex-servicemen have expressed their deep condolences on his demise.